Panjab University students allege embezzlement of funds

Levelling serious allegations of embezzlement, a group of students' representatives raised questions on Panjab University's handling of the Student Holiday Home Fund, a mandatory annual fee collected from students.

The students claimed that approximately Rs 22.90 crore were collected over the last decade, but only Rs 2.5 crore has been spent. They further alleged that no operational holiday homes are accessible to students despite paying for the fund and most of it is deposited in fixed deposits instead of being used for student facilities or development.

The representatives demanded an audit of the fund. Under the Student Holiday Home Fund, PU charges a mandatory annual fee of Rs 60 to 78 from every student studying on its campus as well as affiliated colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh.

PU Campus Students Council (PUCSC) Vice-President Archit Garg said since 2010, PU had collected crores of rupees from students in the name of "holiday home" facilities. Yet not a single operational home is accessible to the students who have paid for it. This fund is still being collected, most of which is deposited in fixed deposits instead of being used for any meaningful facility, development or student access, he alleged.